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'The Completist'
United States
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1) What kind of games do I own and like?
I mostly like the gateway games because of the ease of learning and teaching. My collection (and reviews) include games like PitchCar, Dominion, Carcassonne, Pandemic, Lost Cities, Dixit, Ticket to Ride, Survive: Escape from Atlantis and For Sale.
2) Why was I interested in No Thanks?
I am always looking for light party and good filler games. From the reviews I had read this seemed to be both. I picked up this and For Sale at the same time. They are both similar in their usefulness and flavor in my gaming collection.
3) Why do I recommend you get zero or two copies of No Thanks?
Because the game is too light and too cheap. I’ll explain more later.
4) How is the component quality?
The game contains cards and chips in an oh-so-rare appropriately sized box (about the size of an Uno box). One of my pet peeves is oversized boxes but I have to admit I could never find No Thanks at my game store because I was always looking on the game shelves and never with the smaller deck displays. I ordered my version on-line and have since revisited my local game store and found it snuggled on the wall near the Fluxx decks. A bit ironic that I despise the oversized game boxes and this game eluded me because it was in the correctly-sized smaller box. Maybe I should have asked for help. The cards are average quality but a boring orange and blue color combo that is quite unattractive. The chips are small and cheap but better than I expected. There are no rough edges or burs that scratch when you handle them like some cheap chips. Although still light, they have round edges and feel good in the hand. Because the chips are supposed to be hidden in your hand during play, the light, small (cheap) design is appropriate.
5) Is the game “fair”?
Only in the sense that everyone has an equal and fair shot at being lucky. Cumulative scoring over multiple rounds will curb the luck quotient.
6) Is the game fun?
It is fun. There is a bit of “take that” and a lot of “press your luck”. With the right crowd the table can sometimes get raucous. It fits in really well when my family gets together with up to three generations playing and we’re squeezing a game in before/after meals.
7) Is there lots of strategy?
There is more strategy than first appears. Inevitably, one player will be able to accept a card without penalty but will ‘let it ride’ around the table in order to gain more chips. How many times around should I chance it? Should I take a card because my opponent needs it? It isn’t deep but there is more there than meets the eye.
8) Is there much luck involved?
Yes. Rounds can sway wildly as certain players gain from cards falling their way. First place one game can be easily followed with a last place next with the same strategy. This can be offset somewhat by playing the game with multiple rounds and cumulative scoring.
9) How many players is it best with?
It is good with just about any number of players. The box recommends 3-5 players but I have played with as many as 7. More on that later.
10) How long do games typically last.
10-15 minutes.
11) What ages is it appropriate for?
It says 8 and up which is pretty accurate. I wouldn’t be surprised if their are a few 6 year olds that can even pick up a few successful strategies after playing a round or two.
12) Is it easy to teach and learn?
None of my games in my collection are brain burners but this is one easy game. The game can be explained before you’re finished unpacking it from the box. Pick up a card or lay a chip, only count the lowest card in a run, don’t get points. That is about as simple as a game can get and still offer interesting game play and strategy.
13) What is good about the game?
Nine cards are randomly removed from the game at set up. This can leave a players in a state of angst as they are waiting on a 29 to place between their 28 and 30.
14) What is great about the game?
The hidden chips mechanic is what makes the game thrive. Playing with open chips on the table would make the game very two dimensional but hidden chips is where No Thanks gets it life. You are constantly questioning if the others have enough chips to make it around the table again. If you lose it is often the result of your own greed.
15) What is bad about the game? The cards are ugly and dull. They are easy to read from any part of the table but there are so many ways to make good looking cards and they didn’t do any of it.
16) Does No Thanks have replayability?
There is a wall limiting how many times you can play this in a sitting. After the first few games you’re eager to play another and then...BAM!..get this game off the table already.
17) How could I make this game better?
I keep feeling like there is something missing. A special card in the deck perhaps? Something to add a bit of spice to the monotony of the deck. I have wondered if anything would be added to the game with a few duplicate numbers? Miss you chance at a number and it may come back around. What if there was a 40 in the deck? Just a big matzah ball hanging out there that everyone wants to avoid. What if there was a Wild in the deck that could be auctioned up to the player willing to remove the most chips from the game?
18) Am I happy with my purchase?
I picked this up for about $6.00. It is an awesome buy at that price.
19) Do I recommend No Thanks?
I love the idea of No Thanks. It’s simplicity is refreshing. No Thanks has the feel of a classic game that has been around since the 50’s. This “familiarity” makes it very accessible to newbies and non-gamers. It is so simple and for the price you can’t afford to not give it a try but I know there is a faction of the gaming community that will really not like it. Luck will be too much of a factor. The strategies not deep enough. It almost comes across as a filler game’s filler. It is that light. I would probably recommend For Sale before No Thanks. They are both comparable in length but For Sale is a deeper game overall and a bit less luck-influenced.
20) Why do I recommend two copies of No Thanks?
I want another copy so I can own an additional set of 55 chips. The game can be played with just about any number of players and we often have 8-9 available to play. We have used coins as a substitute to chips before but with a $6 price tag I’ll just pick up an additional game. Maybe I’ll even do something with extra cards to give it a bit of spice.
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Posted Wed Jul 6, 2011 1:11 am